Rick Hendrickson to Serve as NMH’s Next Athletics Director

Northfield Mount Hermon has selected Rick Hendrickson to serve as the school’s director of athletics, beginning in the 2023-24 academic year. Hendrickson was chosen after a national search from a candidate pool that included athletics directors at the collegiate and secondary levels. 

Hendrickson has served as an educator, coach, and school leader in several capacities in Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. He has excelled at coaching students at multiple levels, in multiple sports, including girls' and boys' lacrosse, wrestling, football, fitness and wellness, and whitewater kayaking. He has also served as a director of summer programs and a dean of experiential programs and has led or assisted in outdoor adventure programs, service opportunities, and a host of international travel/study excursions. 

Most recently, as athletic director at Mercersburg Academy, Hendrickson oversaw an expansive and inclusive program with 46 teams at three levels; focused on gender equity in the sports programs; and emphasized coaching-development programming for adults and leadership training for student-athletes. He created innovative programming on college recruiting and collaborated with admission office leaders to strategically coordinate successful coaching outreach and student-athlete recruitment. In addition, he advanced risk management systems and athletic protocols, including athletic training practices. Hendrickson has served as president of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association and as a commissioner for the Mid-Atlantic Prep League and the Independent-Parochial School League, and he has presented at The Association of Boarding Schools conferences.

Hendrickson says that he was drawn to NMH by its mission, values, and tradition of athletic excellence. He’s eager to embrace the school’s commitment to offering an athletic program that supports all students and recognizes the vital role athletics plays in learning, well-being, and community building across the life of the campus, especially as the school advances its work in examining equity and privilege.

Hendrickson will assume the athletic director position from Debby Ghezzi, who will continue to lead the program through the spring season before celebrating both her retirement and her daughter’s graduation from NMH in May. She will collaborate closely with Hendrickson on a transition plan. 

Hendrickson and his wife, Amy, will join the NMH campus community in early July.